Insight from Wendell Berry

Composite mountains of  Bulusan Volcano

"I am speaking of the life of a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children; who has undertaken to cherish it and do it no damage, not because he is duty-bound, but because he loves the world and loves his children; whose work serves the earth he lives on and from and with, and is therefore pleasurable and meaningful and unending; whose rewards are not deferred until "retirement," but arrive daily and seasonally out of the details of the life of their place; whose goal is the continuance of the life of the world, which for a while animates and contains them, and which they know they can never compass with their understanding or desire."

Wendell Berry, The Unforeseen Wilderness : An Essay on Kentucky's Red River Gorge (1971), p. 33; what is likely a paraphrase of a portion of this has existed since at least 1997, and has sometimes become misattributed to John James Audubon: A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.

Lifted from WikiQuotes

Photo by Alma P. Gamil

Mt. Bulusan : 'A Special Place in Philippine Botany'

Palali (sometimes pronounced/spelled as Palale) is a pure white katmon relative that flourishes abundantly in the mountains of Bulusan. http://phytoimages.siu.edu/imgs/pelserpb/r/Dilleniaceae_Dillenia_reifferscheidia_75128.html

Receiving encouraging words from no less than a distinguished scientist was one of the  most rewarding experiences in my personal foray into flora photography in my hometown.

Dr James LaFrankie, author of the book  An Illustrated Guide on Asia's Tropical Trees posted the following in the FB page of the Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines :
"...you are getting a great collection of photographs of all sorts of interesting plants... Mt. Bulusan is a special place in Philippine botany so keep building your collection..."

Dr James LaFrankie attained his PhD in Biology from Harvard University. He is now a professor at the Institute of Biology, College of Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

I did not expect that my simple contributions of flora photos from Bulusan will be noticed. My only aim is to at least make some listings with photos of the flora that are found in Bulusan. This encouragement therefore is a signal for me to continue this plant listing activity one species at a time for as long as I can still hold a camera to photograph these immense biodiversity.

Furthermore, this marvelous information that Mt. Bulusan is "a special place in Philippine Botany" also underscores the importance of the preservation of its natural conditions. For me it means that Mt. Bulusan and its adjacent areas must first and foremost be NOT converted into an industrial field such as that of a Geothermal field zone that will alter irrevocably its surrounding ecosystem.

Photo: Alma P. Gamil
BVNP - Bulusan Volcano Natural Park
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Sunday stroll at Saint James the Greater Churchyard's Garden

The garden at the churchyard of Saint James the Greater enclosed by its historic Punta Diamante's thick coral stone wall is always a favorite destination for my photo strolls. Its easy access from my residence around two blocks away is not the main reason why. The real draw is Punta Diamante, the muralla or stone fort. It is a Spanish colonial period fortress and definitely one of the best kept secrets of Bulusan town. The place is even older than the famed Ruins of Barcelona located in the neighboring Barcelona town.

The historic ambiance of the place easily gives a hint that this place has the potential of a tourist spot similar to the 'Father Blanco's Garden' of the historic Intramuros in Manila often featured in magazines and national dailies. 

At present, the Saint James Parish's garden is planted with local ornamental plants that are familiar in the locality. It seems that these are perennially flowering dotting the expanse of the churchyard with colors. With variety of colors and patterns, I can spend hours inside its perimeter without being bored. 

I was not alone though, I spotted two boys playing 'play golf'. No idea though how they were able to have access to a real golf ball and club :) I did not bother to bother them with trivial questions because I was also busy with my shoot.

There are so many endless subjects in the vicinity that I know will register well in photographs. I started with the ornamental flowers and end up taking photos of interesting leaves and wild flowers as well in the sprawling churchyard.

Related post: http://bulusanruralvagabond.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/punta-diamante-bulusans-testament-to-a-glorious-past/

Photographs by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Bulusan flora documentation starts with a modest gallery at PhytoImages

One of the many species of  Pandanaceae family in Bulusan

Bulusan biodiversity is hands down the richest in the Province of Sorsogon. Surprisingly no documentation of its existing flora can be accessed in the web or in any publication. An interview with a leading NGO in the municipality confirmed  this observation.

In this light, I have decided to speed up my gallery of plant photographs from Bulusan, my hometown, with each plant correspondingly identified and curated by PhytoImages' pool of experts.

For those interested to view the gallery, you may visit this page at Phytoimages.

The above photo of a Bulusan pandan species is included in the gallery. More photos are lined up for uploading in the next few days hopefully with the known scientific identification ready.

Photo: Alma P. Gamil

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Bulusan Fiesta 2013 Gallery (1)

Photographs by Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Saint James the Greater other image

Saint James the Greater, Apostle at the Bulusan  fiesta vesperas procession, July 24, 2013.

"He was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve apostles, given the mission to proclaim the good news, and authority to heal and cast out demons. To be named one of the twelve James must have had faith and commitment.

But even among the apostles he held a special place. WhenJesus raised Jairus' daughter when all thought her dead, he only allowed James, John, and Peter to come with him. Even more important when he went up to the mountain to pray, he wanted James, John, and Peter to go with him. And it was there on the mountain they were privileged to witness what no one else had seen -- Jesus transfigured in his glory, speaking to Moses and Elijah, as the voice of God spoke from a cloud.

And with Simon Peter, James and John were the only ones of the apostles that Jesus gave a special name: Sons of Thunder." Source: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=59                             

Note: The image of Saint James the Greater Apostle ( above photo) is presently under the care of Dr. Oscar Halum and family of Bulusan, Sorsogon.

Photo: Alma P. Gamil

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Happy Fiesta Bulusan!

Viva Señor Santiago!

Photo: Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

The Jerks - Sayaw sa Bubog - Chickoy Pura OPM Rock LOQAL

Gig schedule : July 23, 2013 in Bulusan, Sorsogon
Note: Chickoy Pura is from Bulusan, Sorsogon

Check this site for more info: http://pamughaton.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/edsa-bulusan-2013-the-jerks-live/

Bulusan's Heritage Trees

Pili trees in Odikin rule the village landscape.

Kagawad Eddie G. Frando : Green Councilor of Bulusan

Kagawad Eddie G Frando's souvenir shot of the Bulusan EcoTrail Run 2013 as it appears in his FB account.

Ms. Earth beauties with outgoing Councilor Eddie Frando (extreme left in the photo) and  participants  of the recently concluded Bulusan EcoTrail Run Year Three event are shown here brimming with enthusiasm and excitement. The event is an LGU sponsored activity for its continuing green awareness campaign and to boost ecotourism in the municipality of Bulusan.

Kagawad Frando an outgoing Municipal Councilor co-authored with Councilor Cecil Frades the landmark Sangguniang Bayan Resolution banning Geothermal and other industrial development in Mt. Bulusan and thereby  preserving its pristine nature in perpetuity for the benefit of succeeding generations of Bulusanons.

Mt. Bulusan is an active volcano, one of the five intensely active volcanos (or volcanoes both are correct) in the Philippines (Taal, Mayon, Bulusan, Kanlaon and Hibok-hibok) whose location is close enough to large communities to be of major concern.The Philippines has a total of 405 volcanoes of which  23 are active,  27 potentially active and 355 inactive according to the released information from Phivolcs.

The SB resolution is often cited by environmental advocacy groups in the Philippines and those sectors opposing unwise choice of location for Geothermal Projects that negatively impact the communities near it.

I have however no knowledge of the stand of the visiting beauties regarding the Geothermal dilemma in Bulusan.

Further information on the landmark Resolution: http://bulusanruralvagabond.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/bulusan-lgu-shining-moment-for-ecology/

Photo credit: Kagawad Eddie Frando of LGU Bulusan 

Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines

Bulusan EcoTrail Run Year Three

Only on its third year and the result is outstanding in terms of overall performance. The positive impact of the Bulusan ecotrail run to the ecotourism direction of Bulusan town is one of the legacies the outgoing administration can be proud of. This is an objective assessment as shown in the reception and acceptability of the activity  to the local residents. The overwhelming support especially from the students and youth sector is so high. Ms Earth beauties gracing the event also adds up to up-scaling of this year's ecotrail run to have that look of a national event - a yearly ecotourism calendar date for Bulusan. Definitely not just a parochial community affair.

However I was not able to push my way inside the thick crowd during the fun run time of the guest beauties wearing the Bulusan ecotrail run uniform. This enabled me to focus my attention to my town mates instead whose enthusiasm and excitement rubbed on me that  day. Fun filled energy was so contagious.

In my photos, the real stars of the ecotrail run were the local runners, the interesting array of local participants, the kids all ready to run in complete running attire, the drummer boys/girls,  the medal girls attending to the details of giving away medals to the 'finisher' etcetera etcetera. And oh...don't worry about the photos of the Ms Earth beauties. There are already some posted in the FB sites of my town mates as of this hour :)

All revved up for the event

The kids in complete running uniform

Mayor Myke Guysayko (extreme left in the photo) leading the event - an eventful and bittersweet exit as outgoing executive of Bulusan town  for a new term in the Provincial Sanggunian Board.

Eye-catcher in orange hair

Bright future for Bulusan kids in ecotourism

Starting point ready to record up to the last seconds

Yes, the Ms. Earth beauties were here!

Attention to details include these too!

A 'finisher' receiving the green medal

Eager local press from Bulusan High School

A camera man from the ABS-CBN Bicol records the event.

Winner for the 3km category

Another 'finisher'

June 12 is Independence Day.

Bulusan beauties as medal girls

A finisher for the orange category

...for the yellow category

A street view of the start and finish lines of the running stretch

Bulusan's internet connection is quite strong

A deserved medal for a prepared runner

A refreshing finish

Photos: Alma P. Gamil
Bulusan, Sorsogon, Philippines